EP3061412B1 - Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker - Google Patents

Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3061412B1
EP3061412B1 EP16162705.4A EP16162705A EP3061412B1 EP 3061412 B1 EP3061412 B1 EP 3061412B1 EP 16162705 A EP16162705 A EP 16162705A EP 3061412 B1 EP3061412 B1 EP 3061412B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heating element
distal end
flexible tubing
catheter
spring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP16162705.4A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3061412A3 (en
EP3061412A2 (en
Inventor
Juan A. Lorenzo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DePuy Synthes Products Inc
Original Assignee
DePuy Synthes Products Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
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Priority to EP18191147.0A priority Critical patent/EP3424443A1/en
Publication of EP3061412A2 publication Critical patent/EP3061412A2/en
Publication of EP3061412A3 publication Critical patent/EP3061412A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3061412B1 publication Critical patent/EP3061412B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord
    • A61B17/128—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord for applying or removing clamps or clips
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord
    • A61B17/12022—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires
    • A61B17/12099—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires characterised by the location of the occluder
    • A61B17/12109—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires characterised by the location of the occluder in a blood vessel
    • A61B17/12113—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires characterised by the location of the occluder in a blood vessel within an aneurysm
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord
    • A61B17/12022—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires
    • A61B17/12131—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires characterised by the type of occluding device
    • A61B17/1214—Coils or wires
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/34—Trocars; Puncturing needles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B18/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating
    • A61B18/08—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating by means of electrically-heated probes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M25/00—Catheters; Hollow probes
    • A61M25/01—Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord
    • A61B17/12022—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B2017/00831—Material properties
    • A61B2017/00951—Material properties adhesive
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord
    • A61B17/12022—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires
    • A61B2017/1205—Introduction devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord
    • A61B17/12022—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires
    • A61B2017/1205—Introduction devices
    • A61B2017/12054—Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord
    • A61B17/12022—Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires
    • A61B2017/1205—Introduction devices
    • A61B2017/12054—Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
    • A61B2017/12068—Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device detachable by heat

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a medical device for placing an embolic coil at a preselected location within a vessel of the human body, and more particularly, relates to a flexible delivery member having a heating element and an ejecting member at the distal end of the delivery member for delivering the embolic coil at the preselected location.
  • Elongate flexible catheters are used to place various devices within the vessels of the human body.
  • Such devices include dilatation balloons, radiopaque fluids, liquid medications and various types of occlusion devices such as balloons and embolic coils.
  • Occlusion devices including embolic coils can be used to treat aneurysms or to occlude the blood vessel at a target location.
  • Coils which are placed in vessels may take the form of helically wound coils, or alternatively, may be randomly wound coils, convoluted coils, coils wound within other coils or many other such configurations to better occlude a blood vessel.
  • Embolic coils are generally formed of radiopaque biocompatible metallic materials, such as platinum, gold, tungsten, or alloys of these metals. The coils can be coated with various materials to improve their thrombogenicity. Often times, several coils are placed at a given location in order to occlude the flow of blood through the vessel by promoting thrombus formation at the particular location. The decreased blood flow reduces the pressure on the aneurysm and reduces the risk of a ruptured aneurysm.
  • embolic coils have been placed within the distal end of the catheter. When the distal end of the catheter is properly positioned the coil may then be pushed out of the end of the catheter with, for example, a guidewire, to release the coil at the desired location.
  • This procedure of placement of the embolic coil is conducted under fluoroscopic visualization such that the movement of the coil through the vasculature of the body may be monitored and the coil may be placed at the desired location.
  • these placements systems there is very little control over the exact placement of the coil since the coil may be ejected to a position some distance beyond the end of the catheter. Further, ejecting the embolic coil with a guidewire can be problematic as the coil and guidewire shift during movement along the patient's vascular system.
  • GDC Guglielmi Detachable Coil
  • US 2005/149108 discloses an apparatus including a pusher member selectively engaged to an implant device.
  • the implant device may be, e.g., a coil.
  • a coupling section of the apparatus allows the implant device to be secured to the pusher member via an application of energy such as heat.
  • the application of energy is ceased and the implant device may be disengaged from the pusher member aided by a spring which decompresses and applies a disengagement force that aids in separating the implant device from the pusher member.
  • embolic coil delivery systems that rely on a stiff pusher wire extending through the entire length of the catheter to push an element out of the distal end of the catheter is that the pusher wire inherently causes the catheter to be very stiff, with the result that it is very difficult to guide the catheter through the vasculature of the body. Accordingly, there is a need for a mechanism for deploying embolic coils from the distal end of a catheter having a flexible body that does not inhibit the navigation of the catheter distal end through the tortuous path of a patient's vasculature.
  • the present invention provides for a catheter for delivering a therapeutic element or device to a target location according to claim 1.
  • the target location is a site within the vasculature of the human body, for example, a blood vessel in the brain in order to treat an aneurysm.
  • the release mechanism includes a therapeutic element, such as an embolic coil, having an embolic component mounted on an extension fitting that includes a peg depending from the proximal end of the embolic coil.
  • the peg of the extension fitting is retained in the distal end of a catheter body by a low temperature adhesive, which affixes the extension fitting to a cylindrical heating element.
  • the peg of the extension fitting is also in contact with a compressed spring so as to apply a distally directed force against the extension fitting and the embolic coil mounted thereon.
  • the force of the spring is sufficient to eject the extension fitting from the catheter body, but insufficient to overcome the adhesion of the extension fitting to the heating element via the low temperature adhesive.
  • the heating element includes two electrical leads that extend to a proximal end of the catheter body, such that the heating element can be actuated from outside of the patient when the catheter body is deployed in the patient's vascular system.
  • the heating element When the distal end of the catheter body is positioned at the desired location for the embolic coil to be released, the heating element is actuated via the electrical leads causing heat to build up on the interface between the peg of the embolic coil's extension fitting and the heating element. This build-up of heat softens the low temperature adhesive until the bond between the heating element and the extension fitting weakens. As further heat is applied, the force on the peg of the extension fitting by the spring overcomes the adhesion to the heating element and the spring ejects the extension fitting and its mounted coil from the distal end of the catheter body at the desired location.
  • a therapeutic element delivery system 100 (which may also be referred to as a therapeutic actuator or a release mechanism) including a flexible tube 102 for delivering a therapeutic element 140 to a target site within a body and a release system that can be thermally decoupled to detach the therapeutic element 140 from the flexible tube 102.
  • the therapeutic element 140 may be an embolic coil or another occlusive device that serves to occlude an aneurysm by filling the aneurysm pouch, creating a physical barrier to reduce blood flow into the aneurysm, and inducing thrombosis or clotting therein.
  • the flexible tube 102 which may be a catheter body, may be flexible along its entire length or the flexible region may be restricted to the distal end of the tube.
  • the therapeutic element 140 can be formed with, or mounted on, an extension member 132 that includes a mounting portion 134 at the distal end that supports the therapeutic element 140, and a peg 136 that is received in the tube 102.
  • the extension member serves to secure the therapeutic element 140 at the distal end of the flexible tube until it is ready to be deployed in the patient, as set forth more fully below.
  • the present invention allows the extension member 132 to be thermally decoupled from the flexible tube 102 to deploy the therapeutic element at a more precise location of the therapeutic element 140.
  • the thermally activated decoupling system can be quickly and easily decoupled without propelling the therapeutic element out of the delivery tube. This is desirable as uncontrolled therapeutic elements that prematurely release from the tube may result in inaccurately placed coils or coils that dislodge other previously placed coils.
  • a pair of electrical conductors extend from a proximal end (not shown) to the distal end.
  • a positively charged electrical conductor 104 and a negatively charged electrical conductor 106.
  • the electrical conductors are attached to a thermally responsive heating element 112 such as a heating coil or the like through electrical contacts 108, 110.
  • a thermally responsive heating element 112 such as a heating coil or the like through electrical contacts 108, 110.
  • the thermally responsive element 112 begins to heat up.
  • the conductors 104, 106 extend through the flexible tube 102 such that they can be actuated from outside the patient once the therapeutic device 140 is positioned in the desired location.
  • the extension member 132 is formed with, or have mounted thereon, a bead 126 at its distal end and a collar 138 at an intermediate portion, where the therapeutic device 140 is captured between the bead 126 and the collar 138.
  • a distal outer surface of the bead 126 may be substantially hemispherical, curved, or rounded so as to facilitate an atraumatic introduction of the therapeutic element 140.
  • the bead 126 holds the therapeutic element 140 in a compressed configuration by compressing the therapeutic element 140 against the distal end 148 of the flexible tube 102, or between the bead 126 and the collar 138.
  • the therapeutic element 140 is compressed between the bead 126 and the distal end 148 of the flexible tube, when the connection between the extension fitting 132 and the flexible tube 102 is severed via heating of the heating element 112, the therapeutic element 140 can expand and occupy its intended position in the patient's vasculature. In an alternate embodiment, at least a portion of the therapeutic element 140 also is located within the distal end 148 of the flexible tube 102.
  • the extension fitting 132 when disposed in the distal end 148 of the flexible tube 102, has a peg 136 that is adjacent a compressed spring 150.
  • the proximal end 154 of the spring 150 is fixed to the inner surface 152 of the flexible tubular member 102 by an attachment means such as adhesive, whereas the distal end 156 of the spring 150 is free to extend distally away from the fixed proximal end.
  • the peg 136 of the extension fitting 132 bears against the distal end 156 of the spring 150 when the extension fitting 132 is in the delivery position, such that the spring 150 applies a force on the extension fitting 132 at the proximal end of the peg 136 tending to push the extension fitting 132 out of the flexible tube 102.
  • the extension fitting 132 is retained in the flexible tube 102 by virtue of the low temperature adhesive 160 that bonds the peg 136 of the extension fitting 132 to the thermally responsive heating element 112.
  • the force of the spring 150 on the peg 136 is insufficient to overcome the bonding strength of the low temperature adhesive 160 under nominal conditions.
  • the therapeutic element 140 can be safely and securely delivered to the placement site as it is carried on the extension fitting 132 until it is ready to be released to the treatment site.
  • the conductors 104, 106 are actuated from the proximal end of the flexible tube 102.
  • the thermally responsive heating element 112 begins to heat up, and in heating up it softens the low temperature adhesive 160.
  • Epoxies are examples of such low temperature adhesives, and in a preferred embodiment the adhesive 160 has a softening temperature of no less than sixty degrees Celsius. As the low temperature adhesive 160 softens, the force of the spring 150 overcomes the bonding force of the adhesive 160, and the spring 150 ejects the extension fitting 132 and the mounted therapeutic element 140 from the distal end 148 of the flexible tube 102.
  • the therapeutic element 140 can then expand and, for example, fill the site of the embolism, thereby treating the condition.
  • the flexible tube 102 can then be withdrawn from the patient, leaving the therapeutic element 140 in place along with the extension fitting 132.
  • the extension fitting 132 will preferably be made of a biocompatible, absorbable material that will be absorbed by the body without causing any disruption of the blood flow.
  • the therapeutic element delivery system as described herein is capable of operating in small (250-500 micrometers) diameter applications, such as in veins in the human brain, which enables catheter-based devices to reach and treat an aneurysm in the brain.

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Description

    BACKGROUND
  • The present invention relates to a medical device for placing an embolic coil at a preselected location within a vessel of the human body, and more particularly, relates to a flexible delivery member having a heating element and an ejecting member at the distal end of the delivery member for delivering the embolic coil at the preselected location.
  • Elongate flexible catheters are used to place various devices within the vessels of the human body. Such devices include dilatation balloons, radiopaque fluids, liquid medications and various types of occlusion devices such as balloons and embolic coils. Occlusion devices including embolic coils can be used to treat aneurysms or to occlude the blood vessel at a target location.
  • Coils which are placed in vessels may take the form of helically wound coils, or alternatively, may be randomly wound coils, convoluted coils, coils wound within other coils or many other such configurations to better occlude a blood vessel. Embolic coils are generally formed of radiopaque biocompatible metallic materials, such as platinum, gold, tungsten, or alloys of these metals. The coils can be coated with various materials to improve their thrombogenicity. Often times, several coils are placed at a given location in order to occlude the flow of blood through the vessel by promoting thrombus formation at the particular location. The decreased blood flow reduces the pressure on the aneurysm and reduces the risk of a ruptured aneurysm.
  • In the past, embolic coils have been placed within the distal end of the catheter. When the distal end of the catheter is properly positioned the coil may then be pushed out of the end of the catheter with, for example, a guidewire, to release the coil at the desired location. This procedure of placement of the embolic coil is conducted under fluoroscopic visualization such that the movement of the coil through the vasculature of the body may be monitored and the coil may be placed at the desired location. With these placements systems there is very little control over the exact placement of the coil since the coil may be ejected to a position some distance beyond the end of the catheter. Further, ejecting the embolic coil with a guidewire can be problematic as the coil and guidewire shift during movement along the patient's vascular system.
  • Patients with potentially life-threatening hemorrhagic brain aneurysms are in need of a safe, reliable, and accurate release mechanism for the deposition of embolic coils via catheters. Numerous procedures have been developed to enable more accurate positioning of coils within a vessel. One commercial product of current use is the Guglielmi Detachable Coil (GDC). The GDC utilizes the electrolytical dissolution of a designated guidewire junction to generate the release action. This procedure typically takes 10-30 minutes and is difficult to control in a reliable fashion. The effects of the dissolved material in the blood stream create a potential hazard to the patient. Problems that have been associated with the release of the coil include the force of the coil exiting the delivery catheter causing the coil to overshoot the desired site or dislodge previously deployed coils. Thus, even with the numerous prior efforts to develop miniature actuators for catheter-based therapeutic application, there remains a need for a safe, accurate release actuator mechanism for the delivery of embolic coils.
  • US 2005/149108 discloses an apparatus including a pusher member selectively engaged to an implant device. The implant device may be, e.g., a coil. A coupling section of the apparatus allows the implant device to be secured to the pusher member via an application of energy such as heat. When it is desired to disengage the implant device, such as after locating the implant device at a target cavity site, the application of energy is ceased and the implant device may be disengaged from the pusher member aided by a spring which decompresses and applies a disengagement force that aids in separating the implant device from the pusher member.
  • Another problem with embolic coil delivery systems that rely on a stiff pusher wire extending through the entire length of the catheter to push an element out of the distal end of the catheter is that the pusher wire inherently causes the catheter to be very stiff, with the result that it is very difficult to guide the catheter through the vasculature of the body. Accordingly, there is a need for a mechanism for deploying embolic coils from the distal end of a catheter having a flexible body that does not inhibit the navigation of the catheter distal end through the tortuous path of a patient's vasculature.
  • There is also a need for precise therapeutic actuators configured to deploy therapeutic elements or devices, e.g. embolic coils, within the narrow confines of blood vessels in the human brain, e.g. 250-500 micrometers in diameter. The present invention satisfies these and other needs.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Briefly and in general terms, the present invention provides for a catheter for delivering a therapeutic element or device to a target location according to claim 1. The target location is a site within the vasculature of the human body, for example, a blood vessel in the brain in order to treat an aneurysm.
  • In its most basic form, the release mechanism includes a therapeutic element, such as an embolic coil, having an embolic component mounted on an extension fitting that includes a peg depending from the proximal end of the embolic coil. The peg of the extension fitting is retained in the distal end of a catheter body by a low temperature adhesive, which affixes the extension fitting to a cylindrical heating element. The peg of the extension fitting is also in contact with a compressed spring so as to apply a distally directed force against the extension fitting and the embolic coil mounted thereon. The force of the spring is sufficient to eject the extension fitting from the catheter body, but insufficient to overcome the adhesion of the extension fitting to the heating element via the low temperature adhesive. The heating element includes two electrical leads that extend to a proximal end of the catheter body, such that the heating element can be actuated from outside of the patient when the catheter body is deployed in the patient's vascular system.
  • When the distal end of the catheter body is positioned at the desired location for the embolic coil to be released, the heating element is actuated via the electrical leads causing heat to build up on the interface between the peg of the embolic coil's extension fitting and the heating element. This build-up of heat softens the low temperature adhesive until the bond between the heating element and the extension fitting weakens. As further heat is applied, the force on the peg of the extension fitting by the spring overcomes the adhesion to the heating element and the spring ejects the extension fitting and its mounted coil from the distal end of the catheter body at the desired location.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    • FIG. 1 is a side view of a system for delivery of a therapeutic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with the therapeutic device mounted on an extension member affixed to a catheter body; and
    • FIG. 2 is a side view of a system for delivery of a therapeutic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with extension member released from the catheter body.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • Referring to the drawings, which are provided by way of example, and not by way of limitation, the present disclosure provides for a therapeutic element delivery system 100 (which may also be referred to as a therapeutic actuator or a release mechanism) including a flexible tube 102 for delivering a therapeutic element 140 to a target site within a body and a release system that can be thermally decoupled to detach the therapeutic element 140 from the flexible tube 102. The therapeutic element 140 may be an embolic coil or another occlusive device that serves to occlude an aneurysm by filling the aneurysm pouch, creating a physical barrier to reduce blood flow into the aneurysm, and inducing thrombosis or clotting therein. The flexible tube 102, which may be a catheter body, may be flexible along its entire length or the flexible region may be restricted to the distal end of the tube.
  • The therapeutic element 140 can be formed with, or mounted on, an extension member 132 that includes a mounting portion 134 at the distal end that supports the therapeutic element 140, and a peg 136 that is received in the tube 102. The extension member serves to secure the therapeutic element 140 at the distal end of the flexible tube until it is ready to be deployed in the patient, as set forth more fully below.
  • The present invention allows the extension member 132 to be thermally decoupled from the flexible tube 102 to deploy the therapeutic element at a more precise location of the therapeutic element 140. Whereas prior art devices have relied upon pusher wires and other ejection mechanisms that exert an often uncontrollable and unpredictable force on the therapeutic element to deploy it, the thermally activated decoupling system can be quickly and easily decoupled without propelling the therapeutic element out of the delivery tube. This is desirable as uncontrolled therapeutic elements that prematurely release from the tube may result in inaccurately placed coils or coils that dislodge other previously placed coils.
  • Within the flexible tube 102, a pair of electrical conductors extend from a proximal end (not shown) to the distal end. For example, there may be a positively charged electrical conductor 104 and a negatively charged electrical conductor 106. The electrical conductors are attached to a thermally responsive heating element 112 such as a heating coil or the like through electrical contacts 108, 110. When an electrical current is directed through the conductors 104, 106, the thermally responsive element 112 begins to heat up. The conductors 104, 106 extend through the flexible tube 102 such that they can be actuated from outside the patient once the therapeutic device 140 is positioned in the desired location.
  • The extension member 132 is formed with, or have mounted thereon, a bead 126 at its distal end and a collar 138 at an intermediate portion, where the therapeutic device 140 is captured between the bead 126 and the collar 138. A distal outer surface of the bead 126 may be substantially hemispherical, curved, or rounded so as to facilitate an atraumatic introduction of the therapeutic element 140. The bead 126 holds the therapeutic element 140 in a compressed configuration by compressing the therapeutic element 140 against the distal end 148 of the flexible tube 102, or between the bead 126 and the collar 138. In the case where the therapeutic element 140 is compressed between the bead 126 and the distal end 148 of the flexible tube, when the connection between the extension fitting 132 and the flexible tube 102 is severed via heating of the heating element 112, the therapeutic element 140 can expand and occupy its intended position in the patient's vasculature. In an alternate embodiment, at least a portion of the therapeutic element 140 also is located within the distal end 148 of the flexible tube 102.
  • The extension fitting 132, when disposed in the distal end 148 of the flexible tube 102, has a peg 136 that is adjacent a compressed spring 150. The proximal end 154 of the spring 150 is fixed to the inner surface 152 of the flexible tubular member 102 by an attachment means such as adhesive, whereas the distal end 156 of the spring 150 is free to extend distally away from the fixed proximal end. As shown in Figure 1, the peg 136 of the extension fitting 132 bears against the distal end 156 of the spring 150 when the extension fitting 132 is in the delivery position, such that the spring 150 applies a force on the extension fitting 132 at the proximal end of the peg 136 tending to push the extension fitting 132 out of the flexible tube 102. The extension fitting 132 is retained in the flexible tube 102 by virtue of the low temperature adhesive 160 that bonds the peg 136 of the extension fitting 132 to the thermally responsive heating element 112. The force of the spring 150 on the peg 136 is insufficient to overcome the bonding strength of the low temperature adhesive 160 under nominal conditions. Thus, the therapeutic element 140 can be safely and securely delivered to the placement site as it is carried on the extension fitting 132 until it is ready to be released to the treatment site.
  • Once the flexible tube reaches the treatment site and the therapeutic element is to be released, the conductors 104, 106 are actuated from the proximal end of the flexible tube 102. As current passes through the conductors 104, 106, the thermally responsive heating element 112 begins to heat up, and in heating up it softens the low temperature adhesive 160. Epoxies are examples of such low temperature adhesives, and in a preferred embodiment the adhesive 160 has a softening temperature of no less than sixty degrees Celsius. As the low temperature adhesive 160 softens, the force of the spring 150 overcomes the bonding force of the adhesive 160, and the spring 150 ejects the extension fitting 132 and the mounted therapeutic element 140 from the distal end 148 of the flexible tube 102. The therapeutic element 140 can then expand and, for example, fill the site of the embolism, thereby treating the condition. The flexible tube 102 can then be withdrawn from the patient, leaving the therapeutic element 140 in place along with the extension fitting 132. The extension fitting 132 will preferably be made of a biocompatible, absorbable material that will be absorbed by the body without causing any disruption of the blood flow.
  • According to one of several embodiments, the therapeutic element delivery system as described herein is capable of operating in small (250-500 micrometers) diameter applications, such as in veins in the human brain, which enables catheter-based devices to reach and treat an aneurysm in the brain.
  • It will be apparent from the foregoing that while particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, other types of ejection devices can be used besides a coil spring to eject the extension fitting from the flexible tube. Similarly, the therapeutic devices can be any number of devices that are intended to be deposited in a patient's vasculature. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

  1. A catheter for delivering a therapeutic element (140), comprising:
    a flexible tubing (102) defining a lumen, the flexible tubing (102) having a proximal end and a distal end (148);
    a cylindrical heating element (112) disposed at the distal end (148) of the flexible tubing (102), said cylindrical heating element (112) defining a channel therethrough, the cylindrical heating element (112) including electrical conductors (104, 106) extending along the flexible tubing (112) in a longitudinal direction, the cylindrical heating element (112) being configured to have a layer of adhesive (160) on an inner surface thereof to retain a therapeutic element (140) in the distal end (148) of the flexible tubing (102); and
    a spring (150) disposed in the flexible tubing (102) and proximal to the cylindrical heating element (112), the spring (150) having a proximal end (154) and a distal end (156), the proximal end (154) fixed within the flexible tubing (102) and the distal end (156) configured for longitudinal movement within the flexible tubing (102), the distal end (156) extending through the channel defined by the cylindrical heating element (112) in an uncompressed condition,
    wherein the spring (150) is configured to apply a force on a therapeutic element (140) retained in the distal end (156) of the flexible tubing (102),
    and wherein the cylindrical heating element (112) is configured to be heated up by passing a current through the electrical conductors (104, 106) to soften the adhesive (160) until the force of the spring (150) overcomes the bonding force of the adhesive (160) and the spring (150) ejects the therapeutic element (140) from the distal end (148) of the flexible tubing (102).
  2. The catheter of Claim 1 wherein the cylindrical heating element includes a layer of adhesive (160) on an inner surface.
  3. The catheter of Claim 1 further comprising an embolic coil device (140) at least partially disposed within the distal end of the flexible tubing.
  4. The catheter of Claim 3 wherein the embolic coil device includes a working portion and a securing portion (136), the securing portion comprising a cylindrical member sized to be retained within the channel of the cylindrical heating element.
  5. The catheter of Claim 4 wherein the cylindrical heating element includes a layer of adhesive (160) on an inner surface and wherein the securing portion is held within the flexible tubing by the adhesive.
  6. The catheter of Claim 4 wherein the working portion of the embolic coil device is external to the flexible tubing.
  7. The catheter of Claim 4 wherein a diameter of the cylindrical member is greater than a diameter of the spring.
EP16162705.4A 2012-03-30 2013-04-02 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker Not-in-force EP3061412B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18191147.0A EP3424443A1 (en) 2012-03-30 2013-04-02 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/436,289 US9155540B2 (en) 2012-03-30 2012-03-30 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker
EP13162033.8A EP2644131B1 (en) 2012-03-30 2013-04-02 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker

Related Parent Applications (1)

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EP13162033.8A Division EP2644131B1 (en) 2012-03-30 2013-04-02 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker

Related Child Applications (1)

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EP18191147.0A Division EP3424443A1 (en) 2012-03-30 2013-04-02 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker

Publications (3)

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EP3061412A2 EP3061412A2 (en) 2016-08-31
EP3061412A3 EP3061412A3 (en) 2016-11-23
EP3061412B1 true EP3061412B1 (en) 2018-08-29

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ID=48040060

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EP13162033.8A Not-in-force EP2644131B1 (en) 2012-03-30 2013-04-02 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker
EP16162705.4A Not-in-force EP3061412B1 (en) 2012-03-30 2013-04-02 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker
EP18191147.0A Withdrawn EP3424443A1 (en) 2012-03-30 2013-04-02 Embolic coil detachment mechanism with heating element and kicker

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EP (3) EP2644131B1 (en)
JP (1) JP6271142B2 (en)
KR (1) KR102104226B1 (en)
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AU (1) AU2013202096B2 (en)
BR (1) BR102013007653A2 (en)
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ES (2) ES2689494T3 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2644131B1 (en) 2016-03-30
US9155540B2 (en) 2015-10-13
JP2013212374A (en) 2013-10-17
JP6271142B2 (en) 2018-01-31
AU2013202096A1 (en) 2013-10-17
KR102104226B1 (en) 2020-04-24
KR20130111426A (en) 2013-10-10
US20130261657A1 (en) 2013-10-03
EP3061412A3 (en) 2016-11-23
ES2578607T3 (en) 2016-07-28
CN103356257B (en) 2017-03-01
CN103356257A (en) 2013-10-23
US20150374382A1 (en) 2015-12-31
EP3061412A2 (en) 2016-08-31
EP2644131A1 (en) 2013-10-02
US10426485B2 (en) 2019-10-01
BR102013007653A2 (en) 2015-07-07
EP3424443A1 (en) 2019-01-09
CA2810081A1 (en) 2013-09-30
ES2689494T3 (en) 2018-11-14
AU2013202096B2 (en) 2017-11-02

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